Giving Compass' Take:

• Education Dive discusses a new report by The Education Trust that shows how giving more control to students on what they learn — and developing real-world, relevant examples into a curriculum — can help classroom engagement.

• A report is one thing, putting this into practice is another. How can those in the education sector urge more flexibility when it comes to learning experiences, giving students more of a voice?

• Here's more advice on how to create a collaborative classroom in general.

Students engaged in their learning tend to perform better, but few consistently get grade-appropriate assignments, and a new report released recently by The Education Trust zeroes in on two factors — choice and relevance — and how educators can use them to increase students' motivation and engagement in school assignments.

The report's authors say teachers can provide choice through content, product and process by presenting broad topics but letting students narrow their tasks to smaller slices, letting students choose how they present what they've learned, and embracing the reality that everyone learns differently.

Educators can also make assignments more relevant by teaching "rigorous content using themes across disciplines, cultures, and generations," using real-world examples, and connecting with their students' values and interests.

Read the full article about choice and relevance boosting student success by Jessica Campisi at Education Dive.